With just 23 days left untilStar Wars: The Force Awakenshits theaters, not too many people have actually seen the film, aside from aterminally ill fanwho was granted a private screening, just days before he passed away. And we know a few select members of the cast and crew’s family have enjoyed a screening. Today, we learn of at least one other person who has now seenStar Wars: The Force Awakens, a member of the MPAA ratings board, who according to Box Office Mojo, has given the film a PG-13 rating, for “sci-fi action and violence.” This news doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given that most big-budget movies of this ilk are PG-13. But at least now we know for sure.
What is surprising is that this is only the secondStar Warsmovie to garner a PG-13 rating, along with 2005’sStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The first five movies,Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope(1977),Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back(1980),Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi(1983),Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace(1999) andStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Cloneswere all rated PG. Of course, the PG-13 rating wasn’t implemented until the summer of 1984, with Red Dawn released as the first ever PG-13 movie. The PG rating for the first two prequel movies isn’t that surprising either, given the more kid-friendly nature of those adventures, which introduced us to the divisive Jar Jar Binks.
PG-13 movies have become so commonplace that it’s almost surprising when a big-budget tentpole doesn’t have this rating. Out of the top 20 movies at thebox officethis year, only four have an R rating,Kingsman: The Secret Service,Mad Max: Fury Road,Straight Outta ComptonandFifty Shades of Grey, none of which have cracked the top 10. Out of the top 10 movies, only two aren’t PG-13, with the animated hitsMinionsandInside Outboth rated PG.
Naturally, a PG-13 rating doesn’t always guarantee success at the box office, but it is almost a foregone conclusion thatStar Wars: The Force Awakenswill be a monster hit. Last week, we reported thatStar Wars: The Force Awakenshas sold over $50 million in advanced ticket sales, with nearly one month left until it hits theaters on December 18. The $50 million mark shattered the pre-sales record of $25 million held by 2012’sThe Dark Knight Rises, with some early estimates claiming the sci-fi adventure could earn more than $300 million in its opening weekend, which would shatter the $208.8 million record set byJurassic Worldthis summer.
Star Wars: The Force Awakenswill introduce three new heroes into theStar Warsuniverse,John Boyega’s Finn,Daisy Ridley’s Rey andOscar Isaac’sPoe Dameron, along withAdam Driver’s villainous Kylo Ren.Mark Hamill(Luke Skywalker),Harrison Ford(Han Solo) andCarrie Fisherare also reprising their iconic roles from the original trilogy, although very little is known about their characters. TheStar Wars: The Force Awakenssupporting cast includesDomhnall Gleesonas General Hux,Lupita Nyong’oas Maz Kanata,Gwendoline Christieas Captain Phasma,Andy Serkisas Supreme Leader Snoke andMax von Sydowas an unidentified character. What do you think about the PG-13 rating forStar Wars: The Force Awakens?
